Sibrand

"I followed my orders, believing in my cause. Same as you."

―Sibrand's final words to Altaïr, 1191.

Master Sibrand (c. 1157 – 1191) was the first Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic and a member of the Levantine Templars. Overseeing the port of Acre from the city's Venetian quarter, he sought to establish a naval blockade to deny reinforcements to King Richard I. Though a commander of high status, his control over the docks was increasingly compromised by a crippling paranoia born from the Assassins' purge, which eventually drove him to seek refuge aboard his personal vessel.

Sibrand was the seventh target assigned to the Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad, in his pursuit of redemption, as part of a wider purge of all nine Templars. Like his fellow Templar brothers, his death was mandated by the Assassin leader Al Mualim, who sought to secure the Apple of Eden by eliminating those privy to the Templars' secret alliance.

Biography

Teutonic leader

By 1191, Sibrand had risen to become the first Grand Master of the newly-founded Knights Teutonic. Operating from the city's Venetian quarter, he established absolute jurisdiction over Acre's port and its immediate surroundings. Under his command, the Order forcibly conscripted all crews into the Teutonic fleet and seized merchant vessels, demanding ship deeds be presented under threat of severe punishment. Sibrand intended to use this gathered armada to establish a massive naval blockade, effectively denying King Richard I necessary reinforcements to ensure the Templars' eventual control over the Holy Land.

The Grand Master's authority, however, was increasingly undermined by a deep-seated paranoia, exacerbated by the knowledge that his fellow Templars had already fallen to the Assassins. Fearing he was the next target, Sibrand doubled guard shifts and recalled his knights from the field to fortify the docks. His distrust extended even to his own subordinates, whom he frequently accused of whispering and plotting against him. Consequently, Sibrand made arrangements to retreat to his private vessel, believing that being surrounded by water and guarded by his most loyal men provided the only true security from unseen attackers. To prepare for his escape to sea, he ordered several weeks' worth of provisions to be moved onto the ship.

Despite his obsessive focus on security, Sibrand's command was not without its lapses. A prolonged dispute with the occupants of the northern docks—who refused to relinquish their property or recognize his authority—resulted in that sector being left void of Teutonic knights.

Death

Altaïr: "But you'll be safe now. Held in the arms of your god."

Sibrand: "Have my brothers taught you nothing? I know what waits for me, for all of us."

Altaïr: "If not your god, then what?"

Sibrand: "Nothing. Nothing waits. And that is what I fear."

—Sibrand's dying words to Altaïr, 1191.

Sibrand harassing a scholar

Having retreated to the safety of the docks, Sibrand remained hyper-vigilant, constantly searching for signs of betrayal. During a patrol of the district, he confronted two of his guards, accusing them of whispering and plotting behind his back. Despite their protests, the Grand Master ordered them to double all patrols and recall knights from the field to bolster his protection, unaware that Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was eavesdropping on the exchange from a nearby bench.

Sibrand later moved to the harbor itself, where his paranoia reached a breaking point. Witnessing a scholar dressed in white robes similar to those of the Assassins, he publicly accused the man of being an Assassin sent to instill uncertainty and fear. When the scholar pleaded for his life, Sibrand mockingly challenged the Creator to stay his hand, declaring that unlike William and Garnier, who were too confident, he would not make the same mistake. He then executed the scholar in front of the gathered crowd as a warning against aiding his enemies.

The Templar then donned his horned helmet and set off for his personal ship, prompting Altaïr to follow. One of Sibrand's sentries spotted the Assassin, and though Altaïr managed to kill him with a throwing knife before he could raise the alarm, the sentry's body fell into the water with a loud splash, alerting Sibrand.

Altaïr assassinating Sibrand

In his manic refusal to be killed, the Templar began blindly firing arrows from the deck of his ship in every direction, shooting down birds in the process, all the while shouting that he would take care of the Assassins himself if no one else would. During this rambling, Sibrand failed to notice Altaïr stealthily climb aboard the ship, and he was soon struck down by the Assassin's Hidden Blade.

In his final moments, a trembling Sibrand confessed that his fear of death was rooted in the Templars' "treasure", which he claimed served as proof that this life is all mankind has. He maintained that "nothing waits" beyond the grave, and justified his actions as an attempt to free the Holy Land from the "tyranny of faith" via his planned blockade. Following this revelation, Sibrand perished, and Altaïr returned to the local Bureau to report his success.

Personality and traits

Sibrand: "A blockade by sea, to keep the fool kings and queens from sending reinforcements. Once we... once we..."

Altaïr: "Conquered the Holy Land?"

Sibrand: "Freed it, you fool! From the tyranny of faith."

—Sibrand to Altaïr in his final moments, 1191.

At the time of his appointment as the Grand Master of the Knights Teutonic, Sibrand was an exalted and fierce leader who maintained order through intimidation. A skilled swordsman and archer, he was considered a dangerous opponent; however, his composure crumbled as he witnessed the steady assassination of his Templar brothers. This realization drove him into a state of acute madness and cowardice, transforming the once-proud commander into a man consumed by the fear of his own inevitable demise.

Sibrand speaking with his men

Sibrand's paranoia eventually became a crippling burden, dictating every aspect of his command. He increased patrols throughout the docks and frequently accused his own knights of whispering and plotting against him, distrusting the very men sworn to protect him. This instability led him to murder a scholar simply for wearing white robes that mirrored those of his enemies, viewing the innocent man as a tool for the Assassins to instill uncertainty. Overcompensating for his terror, Sibrand took to wearing multiple swords and knives, falsely believing that an abundance of weaponry would secure his survival.

Sibrand's convictions were defined by an absolute rejection of divinity and the afterlife. Like his fellow Templars, he viewed the Apple of Eden as proof that religious teachings were mere illusions and that nothing awaited mankind beyond the grave. To the Grand Master, the struggle for the Holy Land was not a religious war but a mission to liberate the people from the "tyranny of faith" and the "fool" kings who perpetuated it. Ultimately, his fear was not of judgment, but of the total nothingness he believed followed death.

Behind the scenes

Sibrand is a historical character in Assassin's Creed, where he was voiced by Canadian actor Arthur Holden. Prior to the game's release, four of Sibrand's lines were cut for unknown reasons, only to be later incorporated into Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade. These lines can still be found in the game's audio files and have been extracted for players to listen to.

Trivia

• Sibrand is the only target in Assassin's Creed that can be seen during an investigation memory, though he disappears once the cutscene has finished.
• If Sibrand attempts to flee, vigilantes will try to stop him; the same happens with Talal, Abu'l Nuqoud, and Jubair al Hakim.
• As a result of a glitch, Sibrand may not always wear the helmet he put on after killing the scholar.
• It is possible to throw Sibrand into the water, though doing so causes desynchronization.
• Historically, Sibrand is considered to be the founder of the hospital in Acre which would one day give rise to the Teutonic Knights, but not a member of the Order itself. For this reason, he is sometimes called the "first grand master" of the Order, even if it was only given recognition in 1192, and transformed into a military order in 1198.
• In the non-canonical mobile version of Assassin's Creed, Sibrand is the very first assassination target; he is air assassinated by Altaïr while presiding over an execution at the gallows, similar to the official trailer for the console version of the game. Unlike in the console version, his assassination takes place in 1189 instead of 1191.
• In Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade, Sibrand is described as having black hair instead of blonde.

Gallery

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  Assassin's Creed: Memories art of Sibrand
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  Memories art of a helmeted Sibrand
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  Close-up of Sibrand with his helmet
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  A scholar cowering before Sibrand
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  Sibrand's final moments

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Secret Crusade
• Assassin's Creed: Memories